Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber to discuss this important area. Hindsight is wonderful and this time last year no one predicted a war in Ukraine and the situation we are in. It has happened, despite the best intentions of the vast majority of decent people across the world. As a result there has been an impact on lives and livelihoods and mass migration from Ukraine. The impact this has had on families across the region is foremost in our minds. We are also mindful of the impact of this on individual countries that are suffering and have concerns about food security because of the war.

Food security was to the forefront of the CAP and it was almost a case that in recent times it was no longer an issue. It is not an issue until it is and now it is an issue because of the war in Ukraine. Two countries at the heart of that war were the major producers of wheat and other crops as well as being major producers of fertiliser. We can talk, as other have done, about the path we have been on but we are a net exporter of food. Food is important for employment and for net exports from this country, which is hugely important to our GDP. We take pride in producing, predominantly, high-quality beef as well as milk exports in the form of cheese and baby formula. We cannot judge the rest of the world on breastfeeding as it is a personal issue for many women. We should not lecture other countries on choosing to use baby formula.